Hello everyone. To put it short and sweet, I have been allowed to have a rabbit. And I want to be able to show said rabbit. I can only have one so ot needs to be a buck.But upon researching I can't decide what breed to get! I am torn between these breeds; a havana, english spot, jersey wooly, lionhead,himilayian and thritana. I want a rabbit that is gentle have different personalities, but I'm askin g breed wise. I think I might even go so far and have it be a therapy bunny as well. I plan to take my bunny places with me. Like t he pet store and such. Please I would like opinions as to what is the better breed out of your experiences. Thank you!
Based on what you want to do with your rabbit, I would highly recommend a Jersey Wooly. Overall, Woolies have excellent temperaments. They are a very calm, laid back breed. The bucks tend to be the friendliest and are very cuddly on the whole. They would be perfect as therapy bunnies.
At the same time, Woolies are popular enough to have nice, consistent type, but are not intensely competitive. For that reason, you should be able to get a high quality show rabbit that is proven on the table for around or under $100. Some other breeds can run as high as $150-200 for a younger, less experienced rabbit.
If you're interested in looking into that breed, I'd be happy to help you locate a reputable breeder in your area. Where are you located?
I would not recommend English Spots if you can only have one. Because they are a marked breed, it would probably be more difficult to purchase one higher quality show rabbit for a reasonable price. Breeding a show quality marked rabbit takes a lot of time and resources, and breeders are a lot less likely to have an abundance of "the best" of these breeds on their sale lists. Generally you'd be looking at purchasing a nice breeding pair or trio with the goal of creating your own show rabbits.
I also would not recommend Lionheads. They are not recognized by the ARBA. So although they have a Certificate of Development out and can be shown, you can't win legs or compete for Best in Show. Plus, their type is very inconsistent. You could end up buying a show quality rabbit that would later molt out its mane or turn up with another DQ. It's just not a very "safe" buy if you're only wanting one rabbit and not a small herd.
Himilayans are said to be like Jersey Woolies- great temperaments and you can find good quality for a reasonable price. However, they do have red eyes. That may or may not be a turn off in a therapy situation? Some people are turned away by that. But otherwise, I'd recommend them based on everything else.
I don't have as much experience with Havanas or Thriantas. Maybe another breeder can step in with some advice about those.
Rabbits cannot be neutered if they are to be shown. However, calmer breeds like the Woolies or Himis will be generally easier going with fewer hormonal tendencies. You may want to consider buying a senior (over 6 months). That way, you would have a more solid idea of their temperament, would know how they have shown on the table (maybe have wins already), and you can be more sure of their overall type. Babies are harder to evaluate since they go through a gangly period.
As far as traveling and new environments, show rabbits are used to that. You should have no problem bringing your bunny along with you when you travel.